Stalk-cutter.



No. 826,986. PATENTED J.ULY'24, 1906.

G'. A. BATTLE. STALK CUTTER.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STALK-CUTT ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application 516a May 2441906. Serial No. 318,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES ALFoRD BAT- TLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sixmile, in the county of Bibb and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements, in stalk-cutters; and the object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient device of this nature comprising a central beam to which the evener is adapted to be connected and suitable handles and in the provision of swinging arms having curved cutting-blades and so arranged that lelyer mechanism may throw the levers latera y.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stalk-cutter. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a beam having an axle B secured thereto near the rear end thereof and upon which the wheels C are j ournaled. The forward end of the beam is provided with a caster-wheel E, mounted in suitable bearings in the lower ends of the strips E, which are braced by the bars F, connecting the latter with said beam. A loop G is fastened to the forward end of the beam and to which an evener G is connected, and at the rear end of the beam are handles H. Fastened to the top and bottom faces of the beam are the plates 'K, .between which the pivotal pins I are mounted.

N N designate two laterally-swinging arms which are pivotally mounted upon said pins I, and to the free end of each of said arms is fastened a curved cutting-knife J. Pivotally mounted upon a pin M, passing through the beam, is an operating-lever O, the lower end of which is mounted in a recess formed in the beam, the marginal edges of said recess being protected by means of a slotted plate Q, which is fastened to the upper surface of the beam. Said lever has rack-teeth O on the rear edge thereof adapted to be engaged by the pawl L, which is pivotally mounted upon a pin L, carried by the beam, said pawl also being mounted in a recess formed in the beam.

R designates a cord fastened at one end to said pawl, and its other end is connected to an eye T of the angle-lever T, which is pivotally mounted upon a pin S, carried by said lever.

W W designate eyes or staples which are fastened to said arms, and V V designate rods which have eyes engaging said staples, and their forward ends are bent to form hooks V, adapted to engage apertures 0 formed in said lever. Fixed to the under surface of the beam is the bar P, having angled endsP", which serve to limit the outer throw of said arms, and the upper surface of said bar is provided with ribs P serving to steady the arms and hold the same from slipping upon the bar.

By the provision of the apparatus shown and described it will be noted that a simple and efficient apparatus is aflorded whereby the stalk-cutting knives may be thrown lat erally for the purpose of cutting two rows of stalks at different widths apart and the arms securely held in any adjusted position. I

What I claim is 1. A stalk-cutter comprising a beam mounted upon suitable wheels, laterally-swinging arms pivotally mounted one upon each side of said beam, a cutting-knife upon each of said arms, a bar fastened to said beam and having angled ends adapted to limit the outer throw of said arms, the upper surface of said bar having ribs adapted to engage the under surfaces of said arms, a lever pivotally mounted upon the beam and having ratchet-teeth thereon, links connected to said arms and having hooked ends adapted to engage said lever, and a pivotal pawl mounted upon said beam and adapted to engage the teeth of said lever, as set forth.

2. A stalk-cutter comprising a beam mounted upon suitable wheels, laterally-swinging arms pivotally mounted one upon each side of said beam, a cutting-knife upon each of said arms, a bar fastened to said beam and having angled ends adapted to limit the outer throw of said arms, the upper surface of said bar havand connections between said angle-rod and ing ribs adapted to engage the under surfaces pawl, as set forth. 1o of said arms, a lever pivotally mounted upon In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my the beam and having ratchet-teeth thereon, signature in the presence of two Witnesses. 5 links connected to said arms and having CHARLES ALFORD BATTLE.

hooked ends adapted to engage said lever, a VWitnesses: pawl pivotally mounted upon the beam, an E. H. LANGsToN. angle-rod pivotally mounted upon the lever, L. H. MERCHANT. 

